Improvement in the manufacture of illuminating-gases



UNITED STAT L Nr OFFICE.

FERDINAND KING, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 117,645, dated August 1, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, FERDINAND KING, of ashington, in the county of Vashington and District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Manufacture of Illuminating-Gas from Liquid Hydrocarbons; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawing making part of this specification.

This invention con sists in certainimprovements upon an invention for which I obtained Letters Patent ofthe United States, bearing date the 11th of February, 1868, and which were reissued July 4, 1871. This invention relates to an improved process for manufacturing carbureted hydrogen gas from the various liquid hydrocarbons, such as dissolved coal-tar, resin or asphaltum, oils, petroleum, Ste., and it also relates to an improved apparatus for carrying said process into effect. My process consists in directing a current of pure hydrogen, mixed with steam, through an elongated retort heated red hot, in which the liquid hydrocarbon is being vapor-ized and decomposed, so that said current will carry the heavy carbureted hydrogen gas formed by the decomposition of the liquid hydrocarbon 'to the forward and cooler end of the retort, where the hydrogen combines with the surplus carbon of the heavy gas, forming an additional quantity of illuminatinggas, and preventing the deposit of solid carbon in the retort or pipes, the steam acting mechanically to force the gases through the retort.

My improved apparatus is represented by the annexed drawing, in which Figure lis a cross-section of the generator, and Fig. 2 a vertical longitudinal section of the generator and hydrocarbon and water-reservoirs.

A is a cast-iron retort charged with coke, broken limestone, bricks, or similar material, (coke being' preferable, however,) and so placed in the fiunace B as to becomeintensely heated. O is a reservoir for containing the liquid hydrocarbon, the iiow of which is regulated by the cock c, and c isa pipe with funnel-shaped mouth for conducting the liquid hydrocarbon into the retort A. D D represent two small cylinders, of wrought-iron or other suitable metal, containing wrought-iron turnings or equivalent material,

and are so placed in the flues of the furnace that said cylinders and their contents will be kept at a red heat. E is a water-reservoir, from which water is conducted through a regulating-cock, c, and a branclnpipe, c e', drop by drop or very slowly into the cylinders I) D, where it is instantly evaporated and a portion of its oxygen taken up by the hot iron. The hydrogen thus set free and the remaining superheated steam pass from the cylinders D l) through a pipe, f, into the back end of the retort A, the flow and pressure being regulated by a cock, j", while the liquid hydrocarbon from reservoir C is slowly dripping into said retort at the same time. The exit-pipe G, through which the gas escapes from the retort, being much larger than the steam-induction pipe j', very little pressure is created in the retort, and the hot smoke and carbureted hydrogen, into which the liquid hydrocarbon is transformed by the heat, are forced rapidly toward the forward and cooler end of the retort, where the hydrogen combines with the surplus carbon, forming an additional quantity of illuminating-gas and preventing' a deposit of solid carbon in the retort. It is believed that, under these circumstances, the hydrogen takes up equal equivalents of carbon, thus forming oleflant gas. It is essential that the exit-pipe G be large enough to cause the steam and gas to pass freely and rapidly through the retort and onto the receiver to prevent solid deposits in the retort and Ypipes and undue press'- ure in the retort. The eduction-pipe G leads to an ordinary washer, from which the gas is conducted to a receiver or holder. These latter, being of the ordinary construction, need no description and are not shown in the drawing. H is a trap connected with the exit-pipe G between the retort and the washer, in which the uncombined constituents, including impurities of the substances used, are condensed and precipitated in a liquid form, and from which they may be drawn off through a cock, t', and returned to the reservoir O.

I do not limit myself to the precise construction of my apparatus herein described, as it is manifest its forni and construction may be greatly varied without changing its principles of operation. For instance, instead of two steam-cylinders, D D, th ere may be but one, or more than two. They may be made in other forms than cylindrical, and the steam, instead ofbeing generated in them, may be generated elsewhere and passed through them.

Y furnace that the saidretort and steam-cylinders,

with their contents, will be kept at a red heat, and so constructed, arranged, and connected that steam from said cylinders, after passing over or through the iron turnings or equivalent material therein, andbeconiingpartially decomposed, shall be conducted into one end of the retort and forced rapidly through the same, while the liquid hydrocarbon is at the same time being introduced int the sameretort, substantially as described.

FERDINAND KING.

Witnesses:

' Jos. L. CooMBs,

VCruisin CooMBs. Y 

